I have a 1994 Hijet dump/lift minitruck that I bought 2 years ago with 70,000 km on it and in very good condition.I got it from a very reputable dealer a couple of hundred miles from here.Because of the economy,he closed up or I would have asked him the following: the truck loses power under load in 1st and 2nd gear going up a grade like it's not getting enough air or gas.The first 5 minutes after a cold start we have an "idiot" light come on that is shaped like a muffler or catalytic converter and it flickers.After that it goes off.I can't figure out what tat light is.I pulled all 3 plugs and they were very black and smelled of raw gas.The air cleaner is newand I inspected the air box and passages and there is no obstruction that I can feel or see.I coat hangered the exhaust about 3 feet in and could not detact anything.I thought maybe a mouse might have been looking for a warm place.Could it be that I have a Catalytic converter problem? If so can I remove it since the truck never leaves the farm?I the 2 years we have owned it,we have put 1,700 km on it and have regularly serviced it.We all love the versatility of this thing here at our farm and can't seem to do without it.Can anyone please give me a few suggestions on how to solve the problem?
Hello FUPABOX> Thanks for your reply.That's good information.Do you think I should just remove the catalytic converter and replace it w/a straight pipe since I never take it off my farm?
a pyrometer can sometimes work to check it ,but can also be reading other problems(like an over rich carb).normal temps are between 1000 and 1500 degrees but all vehicles will be different..I would say that if the temp is really high (over1500 then there is a good chance it is plugged,,,, a lot of plugged cats. glow red hot,, but this again could be caused by excess unburned fuel,)..i think a vacuum guage would be a better test ..on any vacuum line there should be around 20 inches at idle(if I remember correctly) ,when revved it should remain around 20 inches or so after a momentary drop....lower means too much backpressure and prob the cat. plugged.....if you never need to emmision test it a pipe replacement of the cat. would be fine...Please don't take this the wrong way,but you did test other possible things such as differential/trans. fluids sticking brakes etc.? good luck keep us posted as to what you find
Hey,FUPABOX,thanks for all of you thoughts.I have checked the rear brakes and fluids in the rear diff..No offense taken,either.I'm going to shoot the Cat. with the pyrometer Monday and see what I get. BTW,is it true that there is a 2-2.5 inch water pipe running from the radiator through the side of the carb that opens the automatic choke with the heat from the water? Someone said that's what activates the choke on this model.I looked very closly and can't find anything like that.What's are your thoughts? Thanks for everything and happy holidays.
merry christmas to you as well....yes the carb choke is heated by water..this post has a good maint. maunual you can download for the hijet http://www.minitrucktalk.com/showthread.php?t=2864... also a full parts diagram for your truck here so can see where everything is www.minitruckcentral.com
Not to get you off course from your problem with the converter but today i somewhat experienced the same thing. No power 1st. & 2nd. gear, hot smell underneath from the converter and rough idle. After letting it idle for a little bit i got to hearing a popping noise that sounded one of the plug wires jumping fire. I pulled the engine cover off the bed and a plug wire had came off the plug, the hot smell from the converter was the unburnt gas from the cylinder that wasn't firing. My converter light has been on and off since I have owned my truck, even when it is 30 degrees outside and the truck hasn't been started for 2-3 days, when it starts the light comes on. Just thought I'd mention couple things you could check.
Hi Demag: I kinda of took the holidays off but tomorrow morning loose or off plug wires will be my first check,even though I've just had them off when I pulled all of the plugs.Thanks for your thoughts.
Something else I forgot to mention. While I had the engine cover off the bed floor I adjusted the air/fuel mixture as it was running too rich and rough, now it idles smoothly, better acceleration and the converter light hasn't been on again since I made the adjustment. From my experience they are very sensitive and it was a major plus to overall performance.
